Skin aging, a prominent sign of overall aging, arises from the interplay of genetic and environmental factors. It impacts not only physical appearance but also psychological well-being. Traditional approaches to mitigate skin aging include physical shielding from environmental factors like UV radiation. Recent research explores the potential of targeting mitochondrial function to combat skin aging. Mitochondria, vital organelles in cells, play crucial roles in energy production, free radical balance, and various cellular mechanisms. Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with skin aging and related diseases. Strategies aimed at improving mitochondrial function, such as targeting mitochondrial dynamics, biogenesis, and autophagy, are being investigated for their potential benefits in healthy aging and prevention of age-related skin diseases.
Key Points :
•Skin Structure: The skin, the body’s outer layer, comprises the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous layers, each with distinct cell types and functions. Keratinocytes in the epidermis provide a protective barrier, while fibroblasts in the dermis maintain skin elasticity and resilience through ECM synthesis. The hypodermis, the innermost layer, connects the skin to underlying structures and stores energy.
•Skin Aging: Skin aging results from intrinsic factors like genes and physiological changes and extrinsic factors like UV exposure and pollution. UV radiation, particularly UVA and UVB, causes apoptosis and skin barrier damage. Aging leads to clinical phenotypes such as wrinkles, dryness, and uneven pigmentation.
•Mitochondria and Skin: Mitochondria are essential for cellular metabolism, homeostasis, and stress responses. Mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to aging phenotypes, affecting various organ systems. In the skin, mitochondria play a vital role in energy production, ROS regulation, and maintaining skin homeostasis.
•Mitochondrial Structure and Function: Mitochondria, dynamic organelles with inner and outer membranes, contain DNA crucial for energy and metabolic needs. They regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and programmed cell death. Mitochondrial dynamics, biogenesis, and mitophagy maintain mitochondrial and cellular balance.
•Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Aging: Mitochondrial damage and cell aging are interconnected, with dysfunction characterized by reduced respiration, decreased membrane potential, and excess ROS. This damage impacts feedback pathways, causing and sustaining aging manifestations. Mitochondrial biogenesis decreases with age.
•Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Skin Aging: Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to skin aging, causing damage to skin structure, function, and metabolism. UV radiation directly affects the epidermis, damaging keratinocytes and causing inflammation. Dermal aging involves mitochondrial injury in fibroblasts, leading to ECM changes and wrinkle formation. Adipose tissue aging is characterized by changes in fat distribution and mitochondrial damage, leading to inflammation and decreased stem cell activity.
•Mechanisms of Mitochondrial Dysfunction Leading to Skin Aging: Impaired mitophagy, mitochondrial dynamics, and biogenesis contribute to skin aging. Mitophagy defects in keratin-forming cells and imbalance in mitochondrial fission and fusion pathways affect skin aging.
•Therapeutic Targeting of Skin Mitochondria: Therapeutic interventions targeting mitochondrial function, such as ROS scavengers like CoQ10, show promise in dermatology. Topical CoQ10 supplementation has demonstrated anti-aging effects by stabilizing mitochondrial activity and exerting antioxidant properties.
This review highlights the critical role of mitochondrial dynamics in skin homeostasis and aging, emphasizing the potential of targeting mitochondrial function as a therapeutic strategy. The novelty of this study lies in consolidating the molecular pathways of mitochondrial quality control—dynamics, biogenesis, and mitophagy—and clarifying their impact and mechanisms in skin aging. Future implications include the development of targeted therapies using antioxidants, pharmacological reagents, and active compounds to improve mitochondrial capacity and skin metabolism. Further clinical studies are needed to validate these supplements for skin anti-aging applications.
Link to the study: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/26/5/1803
